18 October 2023.
Tierney's Taekwondo Academy in Appin has announced that eight of its athletes will represent NSW in the Australian Taekwondo National Championships in Perth. The championship will be held from October 13 to 15 and will feature athletes Ava Cakovska, Heath Dawson, Saeid Orfali, Grace Rodrigues, Hayley Nonenmacher, Christian White, Damien Cakovski, and Carly Orfali. Head instructor Amy Tierney stated that training sessions at the academy range from one-and-a-half to three hours, covering martial arts skills, self-defense techniques, and sparring. All athletes secured their place in the Nationals by ranking in the top three in their respective categories during the NSW State Championships. Two athletes, Grace and Hayley, received special recognition and support. Both athletes have shown remarkable dedication to their sport and community; Grace has been training for four years and is a provisional black belt, while Hayley has three years of training and holds a two-stripe red belt. "We're a small but mighty club in Appin," said Ms. Tierney, reflecting pride in her students. "They're very community-oriented...these girls go over and above for their community."